Roy Hodgson singled out two players after Crystal Palace’s hugely entertaining 5-3 win over Bournemouth.

In a game where headlines will be dominated by men at the other end of the pitch, the Palace boss spoke glowingly about centre back pairing Joel Ward and Martin Kelly.

The makeshift pairing played at the heart of the back four in Crystal Palace’s final game of the season at Selhurst Park as the Eagles finished 12th in the league.

“I at least would like to pay tribute to them because I know they're not the players who will get the man-of-the match awards,” said Hodgson.

“I must say in these last games losing James Tomkins, Mamadou Sakho and then Jeffrey Schlupp, then this week losing Scott Dann, Cheikhou Kouyate just before the game, and losing Jordan Ayew who has done so well, for those guys out there today, they deserve a massive pat on the back.”

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The victory came courtesy of a Wilfried Zaha inspired display where the Ivorian set-up three of Palace’s strikes.

Bournemouth, not tempted to see the season out with a whimper, also played their part in the season closer, a fact that Hodgson was well aware of.

“There were two attacking teams that's for sure!

“If we had of kept it a 3-0 and started the second half as we did with the intensity we showed I think it would have been an easier game.

“We had an offensive approach as did they.

“It was a little frustrating to keep getting two goals up and thinking 'here we are now I can sit back and relax, only to see them score again.

“But I am really pleased we have been able to end the season with a home victory and very pleased too that we played some very entertaining football.

“I'm pretty certain that all of those fans who have stayed right until this moment to show their appreciation to the players that we gave them a nice end to the season and in my opinion it's been a very good season.”

'We've done well'

In a season that saw the club briefly flirt with a relegation battle, Hodgson reflected on a season he considers a success.

“We've done extremely well.

“We reached the quarter-final of the FA Cup, had a run in the League Cup, so all in all given the fact we had to battle through injuries all the way through, I think that’s something to be proud of.”